Sister Maren Renda is serving in the Canada Halifax Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Monday, May 26, 2014

May 19 2014. A Week On Almost An Island

Fun fact of the day: Presque Isle means "almost an island" in French. The town got its name because there are a few rivers surrounding it that intersect, making "almost an island" out of the city.

This week has been incredible. Sister Christensen is from Washington state. She has been out for over a year, and she is a hoot to work with. She loves the Lord and shines with the light of Christ. She is quirky and loves life. We received transfer letters yesterday morning and we are both staying. She has served in the area since the beginning of December, minus the last month. Her companion went home and so she ended up in a couple different trios in Fredericton and Cole Harbour. Now she is back, and boy, is the ward excited that she is back. We are booked for two weeks straight with dinner appointments. I have never had so many dinner appointments in my life!

Over the last month, the Caribou Elders continued teaching many of the sisters' investigators. On Saturday we had a baptism! Her name is Delores. She is in her 70s and has a Down Syndrome daughter. The Spirit was so sweet at her baptism and during her confirmation yesterday. She told everyone after her baptism that she felt such a difference. Afterwards, Jamie, her daughter, came up to us, shook our hands and told us thank you. Then she pointed to our name tags and said, "Jesus Christ." She knows that her mom did just as the Savior asked.

There is a couple preparing for baptism this Saturday as well. Their names are Rachel and Jason. The Elders kept teaching them after the sisters left, too, and now we are tag-teaming teaching them until their baptism. They have two kids, a teenage boy and a younger girl. Their daughter comes with them to church, but I have yet to meet their son. I am so excited for them to enter the waters of baptism this Saturday! This is what this work is all about! Helping others receive all that the Lord has in store for them by making covenants and receiving the ordinances necessary for their salvation.

It's amazing to me how different the culture can be in two areas that are so close geographically, simply because of a man-made border. I feel very much at home here, even though it's not Utah. So weird.

As I was reading about Helaman's stripling warriors this week, Alma 58:40 really stood out to me:

"But behold, they have received many wounds; nevertheless they stand fast in that liberty wherewith God has made them free; and they are strict to remember the Lord their God from day to day; yea, they do observe to keep his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments continually; and their faith is strong in the prophecies concerning that which is to come."

Let us, too, stand fast in the liberty wherewith God has made us free. That freedom comes from the Atonement of Jesus Christ. 2 Nephi 2:26-27 teaches us more about that freedom that comes because of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I love this work! This is Christ's Church! The Book of Mormon is true and it has the power to change our lives!

Love you all! Have a great week. Look for opportunities to share the gospel each day.